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A cut above

Assistant Managing Editor
As a little girl, a Wapakoneta High School senior remembers her great aunt wearing wigs after she was diagnosed with cancer.
It is a memory that has stuck with her through the years and inspired her to help others.
This week, along with four other Wapakoneta High School students, Rebecca Miller donated another 10 inches of her shiny raven strands to Locks of Love. For Rebecca, it is her third time getting her hair cut for a donation to the non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
She first donated her hair in elementary school, then in middle school and now in high school. Those wanting to donate are required to have at least 10 inches of hair they can give.
Rebecca’s aunt died from her battle with cancer, but the senior never forgot how important those wigs were to her. Rebecca said she hopes her donation can help some other girl feel beautiful.
“I hope somebody else can have the hair they want because of this,” Rebecca said. “I hope they are able to choose what they like best.”
Student Senate adviser Julie Courter arranged for the event to encourage students to get more involved in community service and do things that are not about themselves, but for someone else. It’s the mission of Student Senate and next year she is hoping more students will participate.
Hairstylists from Charme’ Hair Design donated their time to cut and style the hair of the girls making the donations.
Joining Miller in donating hair were Michayla Binkley, Courtney Mosgrove, Jill Mullenhour and Olivia Kohlrieser.
“Their hair can help another child, who has cancer, which they can’t control,” Courter said.
She said she thought it was inspiring that the girls were willing to give up their long hair so another child could have hair and their lives be a little bit easier.
“As girls, our hair is a big deal,” said Courter, who mailed three brunette braids, one blond braid and Miller’s raven braid to the Locks of Love organization after the haircuts this week.
“I can’t say enough how proud I am of these girls for doing this,” Courter said.
Olivia, a junior, said she had never done anything like this before, but she thought she could help just by getting her hair cut.
“My hair is really annoying and I have too much anyway,” Jill said as she received a new short do.
She donated her blond hair to Locks of Love before when she was 8.
“If some kids need it, they can have it,” Jill said.
Courtney also wasn’t donating her hair to Locks of Love for the first time, but the sophomore thought it was a good thing to do.
Michayla admittedly was “scared” about how she would look with short hair, but having hair above her shoulders was a lot less scary than what the children the hair was being donated to are facing.
With a family friend who is battling cancer now, the freshman said she hopes her hair helps anyone and everyone it can.